Conveyor for building materials

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for attaching to building scaffolding for conveying, usually vertically, building materials from the ground to various levels. The apparatus is sectional for increasing its height as the height of the building increases. Work carriers are transported upwardly and automatically discharged from their lifting means to a return loop which communicates with drive means to transport the carriers back to the bottom of the apparatus where they are automatically placed ready to travel upwardly with an additional work load.

[451 Aug. 29, 1972 3,321,065 5/1967 Imam..........................198/85 3,172,526 3/1965 Buccicone...................198/41 [54] CONVEYOR FOR BUILDING MATERIALS m 8 SW w m m. mmy mm mm mm mm m 8 a d M m 8 m B M 0 Wm m mm ml w a ME 2 N. n 0

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter AttorneyBarlow & Barlow 211 App]. No.: 65,432

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser.

ABSTRACT An apparatus for attaching to building scaffolding for March 19, 1969, abandoned.

conv ying, usually vertically, building materials from [52] 193/45,198/104 the ground to various levers. The apparatus is 511 of 5s FieldolSeareh.....2l4/16.1 a; 187/24; 104/167; M hush building increases. Work carriers are transported upv 45 wardly and automatically discharged from their lifting means to a return loop which communicates with mm W drive means to transport the carriers back to the bot- UNll'BD STATES PATENTS 2,742,164 4/1956 Francs tom of the apparatus where they are automatically placed ready to travel upwardly with an additional workload.

214/161 B 2,857,021 10/1956 Kinsman......................187/24 3,464,529 9/1969 Horsky....... ..193/32 I2CI1IIIM, 19 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBmszs m2 SHEET 010! 11 DONALD flmww ATTORNEYS mimimucze m2 SMEI 02 0F 11 INVENTOR.

DONALD W. BROWN 6% M ATTORNEYS PATENTEII E I97? SIEEI 03W 11 F G. 3 INVENTUR.

DONALD W. BROWN ATTORNEYS lll cl: a

SHEET (NW 11 F I 6 INVENTOR.

DONALD W. BROWN BY ATTORNEYS FIG.5

PATENTEmuczs m2 PATENIEDnucza m2 SHEET USOF 11 I l INVENTOR DONALD W. BROWN FIG.

fl n aw P6201410 ATTORNEYS PATENIEDwm 912 3.687268 SHEET 07 0F 11 FIG.I2

INVENTOR DONALD W. BROWN AT TORNE YS PATENTE'flmcze Ian 3.687268 saw our 11 A52 xi )4 INVENTOR DONALD W. BROWN ATTORNEYS PATENTED M18 29 1912 sum as or n FIG.|4

INVENTOR DONALD W. BROWN r g mvs PATENTEDwczs I912 SHEET 10W 11 III II FIG.I5

FIG.|6

INVENTOR i ioomxw w. BROWN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDauczs m2 SHEEI 1-10? 11 FIG.|9

INVENTOR DONALD W. BROWN flak.) flank,

ATTORNEYS 1 CONVEYOR FOR BUILDING MATERIALS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application, Ser. No. 808,456, filed Mar. 19, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A jackscrew is provided in a plurality of sections which may be attached together end to end and is usually arranged vertically, although this is not essential. A casing partially surrounds the jackscrew and provides a track for work carriers which are loaded with the work to be lifted. The work carriers are provided with means to engage the jackscrew and be propelled by the rotation of the jackscrew along the track to the desired height where the work on the carrier will be removed. Thereafter, the carrier in one embodiment will be automatically discharged from the lifting screw into a chute which will convey it back to the starting point. Some means are provided in this chute so that the carrier dropping by gravity will be slowed in its descent to a conveyor belt which will move the carrier back into a position to engage the jackscrew in a certain timed relation.

In a second embodiment, after the work carrier has been automatically discharged from the lifting screw, it passes around a return loop means to a second jackscrew. This second jackscrew acts as a retum screw to transport the carrier to the bottom of the apparatus. Here, as the carrier is discharged from the return screw, it is directed through bottom return loop means which transports the carrier to the loading area and the lifting cycle is repeated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental elevation partly in section on a larger scale of the lower portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an elevation partly in section of the upper part of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating in plan the carrier engaging the track of the casing about the screw;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the upper part of the casing about the screw where the discharge of the carrier occurs;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the casing and screw illustrating two sections of the screw and casing attached together with the carrier shown in elevation;

FIG. 7 is an elevation partly in section illustrating the retarding means for the dropping carrier through its return chute;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the shaft casing illustrating the manner of attaching the casing to scaffolding;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the casing illustrating another manner of fastening the casing to scaffolding;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the alternative apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section illustrating the manner in which the screw sections are connected within the casing;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of the lower portion of the alternative apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top view illustrating the lower portion of the alternative apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section illustrating the bottom return loop of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal section taken through the casings of the vertically mounted screws;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section illustrating the top return loop of FIG. 10;

FIG. 17 is a rear view of the carrier used with the apparatus of FIG. 10;

FIG. 18 is a side view of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 19 is an end view of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings and particularly FIG. 2, there is a framework 10 having a base 11 and an upright 12 supporting a platform 13. A vertical shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in this framework by bearings 16 and 17 and is driven by a motor 18 having a pulley 19 by means of belt 20 driving the drum or pulley 21.

Vertically aligned axially with this shaft 15 is a screw 25 and which will have driving connection with the shaft 15 by means of a square stud 26 protruding axially from the lower end of the screw 25. This may be conveniently formed by a plug driven into a hollow threaded shaft and provided with a shoulder 27 to rest upon the inner driven race of a ball bearing support. This screw is provided with an acme thread and at its upper end is hollow and there is a sleeve 28 set into this upper end and provided with a square hole 29 of a size to fit the square boss 26 at the other end of this screw section. The square hole 29 in the sleeve 28 must be lined up with a square shank 26 so as to keep the acme thread in line for the transfer of the work carrier from one section to another as sections of the screw are added for greater vertical height.

There is provided about each section of the screw shaft a casing designated generally 35 (FIG. 4) which is generally circular with outwardly extending portions 36 which terminate in flanges 37 and provide a track or guideway for a carrier. These portions 36 are spaced so as to leave room for a projecting portion of the carrier designated generally 50 to engage the screw. A strengthening rib 38 is located rearwardly opposite the space between the outwardly extending portions 36 and runs axially of the casing 35 while strengthening ribs 39 extend laterally of the casing. At the lower end of each casing there is a bottom wall 40 which extends laterally of the axis of the casing and the screw within. This bottom wall provides a support for the screw and carries a ball bearing to receive the collar 27 and support the weight of the screw. A portion 27' extends through the inner race 41 of this ball bearing while the outer race 42 is fixed in the bottom wall 40 with balls 43 between the races. The square part 26 or stud 26 projects below this portion 27' and enters the square socket 29 in the upper end of the next axially related screw shaft. By having the acme threads properly aligned, the carrier which has threaded engagement with this screw may transfer from one screw shaft section to the other when moving along the track 37. Each section of the casing will be held in fixed relation to the casing below it and will also attach to the scaffolding by any suitable means such as adjustable hangers 44 (FIG. 9).

The carrier designated generally 45 is shown best on enlarged scale in plan in FIG. 4 and in elevation in FIG. 6. This carrier has a bifurcated portion forming arms 46 so as to receive between them the flanges 37 on the casing forming a guiding track. Rolls 47 are supported by a protrusion 48 of the body portion of this carrier to engage the outer face of the track 37 while two pairs of rolls 49 supported by the arms 46 engage the inner end of the track, and as this inner edge is tapered somewhat, this provides a means for centering the carrier on the track and supporting it in a vertical relation on the track. A tongue portion 50 of the carrier is provided with screw threads to engage the threads of the screw 25. Thus, as rotation of the screw occurs with the carrier in position on its track, the carrier will move upwardly along the track conveying such load as it may carry, such as that designated in phantom at 51 in FIG. 3. In the illustrated case, as the work load is to be a cement cinder block with openings therein, there is provided a tongue 52 which may extend into one of the openings in the block for loading it onto the carrier. This tongue is also provided with laterally extending trunnions 53 for assistance in returning the carrier to its starting position as will hereinafter appear.

The lower casing section has its track 37 starting above the lower end of the casing as can best be seen in FIG. 2 so as to provide a space for the carrier to be positioned beneath the track. The carriers are presented to the track by a conveyor belt 61 driven by motor 62 and belt 63. A work carrier 45, in the position shown intermediate the ends of the belt, advances until it reaches the end of the belt when it drops down into the position shown at the right in FIG. 2, but still out of engagement with the screw. This movement is assisted by the configuration of the part 48 of the carrier. At a proper time, by some timed control means, a magnetic device 65 may be actuated to draw the carrier into the screw so that the tongue portion 50 engages the threads of the screw whereupon the carrier then commences to move upwardly still held in engagement with a screw by the magnetic timer until it is in engagement with the track whereupon the electromagnet timer ceases to operate leaving the carrier in engagement with the track and the screw to be advanced upwardly. After the work carrier is screw fed, its work load is then applied. Altemately, the position of the end roller of the conveyor belt may be positioned closer to the track, and the carriers, as they reach the end of the travel, will automatically engage the screw.

At the upper end of its travel the work carrier moves beyond the top of its track and passes through a return chute 69. This return chute is generally tubular. The lower wall is cut away as at for passage of the tongue 52 of the work carrier, and the upper wall is slotted as at 71 (FIG. 1) and is also provided with a trap door 72 therein through which the tongue 52 may pass. After the tongue passes through this trap door, the track stops, and as the carrier further advances, it moves oh the track and the trap door closes. The carrier may be ejected from the track by a repulsion magnet operated when the carrier arrives at the desired point. As the carrier moves off the track, it swings downwardly about its trunnions 53 which now engage the chute on either side of the slot 71 which receives the tongue 52, and the carrier in this position as shown at the left in FIG. 3 slides down the chute until it reaches the opening 74 in the top of the chute which is wide enough for the trunnions 53 to pass through, and thus when in this position the carrier drops through the vertical portion of the chute 75 and down to the curve portion 76 which delivers it onto the traveling belt 61. In its e down this chute, however, it engages spring arms 80 on either side of the vertical portion of the chute 75 which slow up its travel and prevent damage to the parts. The carrier then travels along the belt to its position and engagement with the screw again for another ascent. Should there be a failure in the ejection of the carrier from the screw either by falling therefrom or by physical ejection means, a safety switch (FIG. 3) located at the uppermost reaches of the track will disconnect the source of power to motor 18.

Looking now to the perspective view of FIG. 10, a second embodiment is disclosed making use of two jackscrews. A first jackscrew lifts the carriers along a track in the casing to the discharge area. Return loop means then transport the carriers to the second jackscrew that returns the carriers to the base of the apparatus for reloading and the initiation of a new cycle.

The basic concept for the second embodiment remains the same as the first embodiment and is best illustrated in FIG. 1 l. Jackscrew is formed of several identical sections 102. The external surface of these sections is provided with an acme thread. A sleeve 104 is set into the bore at each end of screw sections 102. Each sleeve is provided with a square bore of a size to receive one end of a square stud 106 that couples adjoining screw sections. The square studs also act to keep the acme thread in line for the tramfer of the work carriers from one section to the next as sections of the screw are added for greater vertical height. Spring washers 108 limit the extent to which the studs are received in the sleeves.

Surrounding the jackscrew is a casing whose cross section is best illustrated in FIG. 15. The casing is also sectionalized with the weight of the individual sections being borne by support members 110 which extend into slots formed along the inner vertical wall of the casing sections. Rotation support of each jackscrew section is had by thrust bearings 109 received in members 110. The support members, in turn, rest upon scaffolding cross members 112. U-bolts 114 pass around arch-shaped side panels 116 and through brackets 118 to secure the casings in position. Flanges 119 on the side panels mate with channels 121 of the casings to help maintain proper alignment The carrier designated generally is illustrated best in FIGS. 11 and 17-19. A channel shaped frame 132 (FIGS. 17-49) has axles 134 joumaled laterally therein in opposite walls. Rollers 136 on the axles ride along the track formed in the casing sections by channels 122 (FIG. in response to the rotating motion given screw 100 which is transmitted to the carrier in the form of linear motion by engagement of the teeth on the tongue portions 138 and 140 with the teeth on the screw. Rollers 145 engage flange 123 and provide a means for centering the carrier in the guide channel 122. These rollers also act to stabilize the motion of the carrier as it travels upwardly through the casing sections. Element 138 of the carrier is a fixed tongue portion mounted on the underside of frame 132 and having axle 134 passing therethrough. Element 140 is an adjustable tongue portion having a longitudinal slot 141 through which rod 142 passes. The adjustable tongue portion insures proper engagement of the teeth of the carrier with the screw teeth as the carrier passes from one screw section to the next by compensating for possible miss meshing. This is accomplished by the interplay of spring 143 against rod 142 when the teeth on tongue portion 140 engage the teeth on the lower end of second 102 of the jackscrew. If the aforesaid sets of teeth are not ready to mesh when they come in contact, tongue portion 140 will remain stationary momentarily while the carrier continues to rise with rod 142 continuing to rise which will compress spring 143. The spring maintains the forward teeth of tongue portion 140 in poised contact with the lower end of screw section 102 until meshing is accomplished. After the carrier has risen a sufficient distance, the lower fixed tongue portion will become disengaged from the teeth of the lower section 102 of the jackscrew. As the carrier continues to rise, the time for engagement of the teeth of the fixed tongue portion with the teeth on the lower end of the above screw section 102 arrives. If the teeth of tongue 138 are not ready for meshing, the adjustable tongue portion continues to rise while the carrier momentarily remains stationary till the teeth properly intermesh. This is accomplished by the expansion of spring 143 that allows rod 142 to remain momentarily stationary as the slot 14] travels upwardly around the rod. Element 144 is an adjustable stop which limits the distance of travel of rod 142 along the slot. The process just described will continue over and over again as each carrier rises along the jackscrew and provides an automatic system for insuring proper meshing of the carrier with the jackscrew.

The mechanism for driving the jackscrew is illustrated in FIGS. l2-14. The framework for supporting the gears, motor, etc., is generally designated 150. A motor 152 drives shaft 154 upon which sheave 156 is mounted. Belt 158 connected between sheave 156 and sheave 160 transmits rotational movement to shaft 162. A sprocket gear 164 mounted on shaft 162 drives sprocket gear 166 through double roller chain 168. Shaft 170 on which sprocket gear 166 is mounted also has gear 172 mounted thereon. This gear 172 meshes with gear 174 to drive the jackscrew that lifts the carriers with their workload to the top of the jackscrew. Gear 176 is in turn intermeshed with gear 174 but rotates in the opposite direction to drive the jackscrew that returns the empty carriers to the bottom of the apparatus to be reloaded. The framework is basically supported by brace section 180 and wall 181 attached to scaffolding post 182 and by post 183 that supports the bottom cover 184. Scaffolding posts 185 also help to stabilize the framework. A cover 186 helps to keep out dirt and dust.

Looking closely at FIG. 14, it is seen how gear 174 drives the lifting jackscrew. A key driven into opposing key hole slots in gear 174 and sleeve 104 attaches the two together. Rotational movement transmitted to gear 174 by the motor as previously described rotates the lifting jackscrew to lift loaded carriers to their destination above.

The manner in which the carrier rides along the guide channels of the casing and how the transfer of the carrier from one screw section to another is accomplished has been previously discussed. By looking to FIG. 16, it will be seen what happens after the loaded carrier has been fed to the top of the lifting jackscrew. As the leading or front carrier wheels reach the top of the track, a kick-out ejector mechanism which has received a signal has actuated bumper 192 that directs the front wheels of the carrier into the top return loop means 195. The top return loop means is comprised of vertical lateral C-shaped wall members 197 connected along their inner edges by braces 198. An absence of braces along the outside of the loop allows the work holding members 200 attached to the carriers to travel around the loop unrestricted with the rollers of the carriers in the channel 202 formed by track 204 and the outer flanges 205 of the C-shaped wall members 197. Brackets 210 attach the top return loop means 195 to the top of the up and down casings 120. The top return loop means is basically the same as the bottom return loop means and would have a similar cross section to that seen in the end view of the bottom return loop means shown in FIG. 12.

As the carriers accumulate at the top of the lifting jackscrew, they force the advance cam'ers up and around the loop. When the individual carriers are discharged from the loop, they engage the retum jackscrew in a manner similar to that accomplished when the carriers engage the lifting jackscrew.

As the carriers reach the bottom of the return jackscrew, they are discharged into the bottom return loop means for travel to the carrier reloading area. The bottom return loop means 215 is comprised of C- shaped wall members 107 connected along the inner area by braces 198. Track 204 and flanges 205 form a channel 202 for the rollers of the carrier to travel along. Again the C-shaped wall members 197 are not connected therebetween at their outer surface to allow the work holding members 200 attached to the carriers to travel around the loop unrestricted. As the carriers accumulate in the bottom return loop means, the advance carriers are forced upwardly until the teeth on their adjustable tongue portions 140 engage the teeth of the first screw section. Brackets 220 securely mount the return loop means to the bottom of the casings 120.

It is to be realized that the configuration of the am, platform, etc., which would extend outwardly from the carriers to carry a work load could be of an infinite number of designs or configurations, each of which determined by the configuration of the work load.

I claim:

1. A conveyor for building material or the like comprising a jackscrew extending upwardly, a casing extending upwardly about said jackscrew, a track carried by said casing that is parallel to the axis of said jackscrew, a plurality of work carriers slidable along said track and each having a first tongue means to engage said jackscrew to be fed thereby along said track,

means to feed the carriers to said jackscrew adjacent one end thereof, said carriers each having a second tongue that extends in a direction opposite to that of said first tongue means, trunnions extending laterally outwardly on said carriers from both sides of said second tongue, means to discharge the carriers from the jackscrew at some distant point therealong, and means to return the work carriers from the discharge means to the carrier feeding means for reloading including parallel support members spaced apart to form a slot through which said second tongues may pass while said trunnions are supported on said support members.

2. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein said jackscrew and casing are in sections attached together to provide the desired length.

3. A conveyor as in claim 2 wherein each casing section provides a support for the screw section contained therein.

4. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein the means to feed the carrier to the screw comprises a conveyor belt.

5. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein the means to feed the carrier to the screw comprises an electromagnet.

6. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein the means to feed the carrier to the screw comprises a conveyor belt and an electromagnet.

7. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein said return means comprises a chute.

8. A conveyor as in claim 7 wherein said chute provides a gravity drop for said carrier.

9. A conveyor for building material or the like comprising a first jackscrew extending upwardly, a casing extending upwardly about said first jackscrew, a track carried by said casing that is parallel to the axis of said jackscrew, a plurality of work carriers slidable along said track each having a top side and a bottom side and each having means to engage said first jackscrew to be fed thereby along said track, means to feed said carriers to sm'd first jackscrew adjacent one end thereof with said carriers having their top side up, means to discharge the carriers from the first jackscrew at some distant point therealong, means to return said work carriers from said discharge means to the carrier feeding means for reloading comprising a vertically oriented loop track and a second jackscrew that acts as a carrier retum screw that carries the carriers downwardly with their top sides facing downwardly and their bottom sides facing upwardly.

10. A conveyor as recited in claim 9 wherein said carrier feeding means comprises a vertically oriented loop track.

11. A conveyor as recited in claim 9 wherein said carriers comprise a fixed tongue portion and an adjustable tongue portion each having teeth to engage said jackscrews.

12. A conveyor as recited in claim 9 wherein said jackscrews and casings are in sections attached together to provide the desired length.

I! i IIK t i 

1. A conveyor for building material or the like comprising a jackscrew extending upwardly, a casing extending upwardly about said jackscrew, a track carried by said casing that is parallel to the axis of said jackscrew, a plurality of work carriers slidable along said track and each having a first tongue means to engage said jackscrew to be fed thereby along said track, means to feed the carriers to said jackscrew adjacent one end thereof, said carriers each having a second tongue that extends in a direction opposite to that of said first tongue means, trunnions extending laterally outwardly on said carriers from both sides of said second tongue, means to discharge the carriers from the jackscrew at some distant point therealong, and means to return the work carriers from the discharge means to the carrier feeding means for reloading including parallel support members spaced apart to form a slot through which said second tongues may pass while said trunnions are supported on said support members.
 2. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein said jackscrew and casing are in sections attached together to provide the desired length.
 3. A conveyor as in claim 2 wherein each casing section provides a support for the screw section contained therein.
 4. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein the means to feed the carrier to the screw comprises a conveyor belt.
 5. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein the means to feed the carrier to the screw comprises an electromagnet.
 6. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein the means to feed the carrier to the screw comprises a conveyor belt and an electromagnet.
 7. A conveyor as in claim 1 wherein said return means comprises a chute.
 8. A conveyor as in claim 7 wherein said chute provides a gravity drop for said carrier.
 9. A conveyor for building material or the like comprising a first jackscrew extending upwardly, a casing extending upwardly about said first jackscrew, a track carried by said casing that is parallel to the axis of said jackscrew, a plurality of work carriers slidable along said track each having a top side and a bottom side and each having means to engage said first jackscrew to be fed thereby along said track, means to feed said carriers to said first jackscrew adjacent one end thereof with said carriers having their top side up, means to discharge the carriers from the first jackscrew at some distant point therealong, means to return said work carriers from said discharge means to the carrier feeding means for reloading comprising a vertically oriented loop track and a second jackscrew that acts as a carrier return screw that carries the carriers downwardly with their top sides facing downwardly and their bottom sides facing upwardly.
 10. A conveyor as recited in claim 9 wherein said carrier feeding means comprises a vertically oriented loop track.
 11. A conveyor as recited in claim 9 wherein said carriers comprise a fixed tongue portion and an adjustable tongue portion each having teeth to engage said jackscrews.
 12. A conveyor as recited in claim 9 wherein said jackscrews and casings are in sections attached togetHer to provide the desired length. 